Re: boat trailer resto
Use only STAINLESS STEEL. Nothing else hardware wise. For the lights, get waterproof, but unplug them at the ramp anyway. Paint everything. For the hubs, your hubs should be fine, less it is cracked. What you probably need are new bearings and seals. For bearings, jack up the trailer, and take the wheel off. Then, pull off the cap, or bearing buddy. Put on rubber gloves now. Take out the cotter pin, and remove the castle nut. Then, the whole hub will come out. Now, you need to remove the seal. This is just a piece of some synthetic that does something to hold the grease in. If you have a seal puller, all the better, otherwise, just use some screw driver or something. Don't scratch the inside of the hub though. Ocaissionally they are stuck so bad, a seal puller wont remove them, and in that case, you need a BRASS punch (steel will damage the inside of the hub) Use that, and a hammer, to push the seals out. Hopefully a screw driver/seal puller will do. Then, the actual roller bearing assembly will come out. If they are pitted, replace them NOW. Even if they aren't replace them anyway. I found a place online to get them for 5 bucks. I will find out what that was, and post it. You also need new seals. You can get them at auto parts stores, but we get ours from chicago rawhide (online of course) Once you get them out, you need to measure them - often the inside bearing is larger than the outside. Now, check your spindle. If bad bearings have rubbed notches in it, you need a new axle. Clean the hubs thoroughly with mineral spirits. A parts washer is nice for this task. When putting the seals back in, put the bearing in, and then press the seal in. A vice might work, but ocaissionally, we have had to use the press. Reinstall, and use a new cotter pin. Also, always put bearing buddies on. That is a MUST. Keep them full too. When putting them on the first time, go ahead and grease it most of the way. Then, use the bearing buddy. Starting empty with the bb isn't always the best.
have fun, and good luck.
